CROWN POINT | Retired Crown Point High School teacher and administrator Jerry Caravana earned a seat on the Crown Point School Board on Tuesday.

Surrounded by supporters at the Gary Sportsman Club, off 101st Street, Caravana attributed his support to the many people in Crown Point who have known him for years as a resident and are aware of his long career with the Crown Point Community School Corp. Caravana retired from his post as the school's athletic director in June.

The name-recognition factor "was a definite plus for me," he said, amid the congratulations and conversation flowing around him.

Caravana, 63, beat out businessman Mark Bates for the District 2 seat. Caravana will replace Dan Root, who chose not to run for a third term.

"Jerry is a good guy, and he'll do a great job," Bates said. "I wish I had won, but at the end of the day, Crown Point still wins. I wish Jerry the best."

Caravana will become a member of the board July 1. He said the school corporation has numerous ongoing projects, and he looks forward to "getting in there and helping out."

School Board President Scott Angel, who represents Winfield, and Karen Schrum, who is the at-large candidate, both ran unopposed.